I took a deep breath, bracing myself for the conversation I had long avoided. “Mom, you saw what happened. This isn’t just about the slap. I’ve been paying for everything, and she treats me like… like I’m her servant.”

Her eyes softened, but she was still at a loss for words. “We thought… I mean, your father and I thought the money was from your savings, not your combat pay. We never wanted you to feel obligated—”

“Obligated?” I interrupted, my voice rising slightly. “Mom, I offered to help because I wanted to, but this has gotten out of hand. I can handle the physical demands of my job, but this emotional toll? It’s too much.”

The door opened again, and Vanessa stormed out, her eyes ablaze with anger. “How could you?” she spat, tears in her eyes. “You embarrassed me in front of everyone!”

I stood tall, refusing to back down. “Vanessa, you slapped me in front of everyone. I’m your sister, not your servant. I’ve supported you in every way I could, but this? This was too far.”

She opened her mouth to argue, but then something in my expression stopped her. The fire in her eyes flickered and then died down. Her shoulders slumped slightly, and for the first time, she seemed to truly see me, not just her personal financier.

“Karen, I didn’t mean—” she started, but the words got caught somewhere between her pride and her realization.

I shook my head slowly. “Vanessa, you need to take a step back and think about what really matters. This wedding—it’s a day, but family is for a lifetime. I’m not saying cancel everything, but maybe… slow down a bit. Consider what’s important.”

There was a long pause as she stood there, the weight of her decisions settling around her. My mother placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder, and I saw the shift in Vanessa’s eyes—confusion, regret, and perhaps the smallest glimmer of understanding.

The dream wedding might have been put on hold, but maybe, just maybe, it was the wake-up call Vanessa needed to rebuild something far more valuable than an extravagant ceremony: our relationship.